Yes, possibly. If you are a university level graduate:
http://www.bfm.admin.ch/content/bfm/…abgaenger.html
From my reading you should just be able to take your employment contract to your commune/canton authorities and apply to have it changed.
If it’s not at university level though, I think your prospective employer would have to apply on your behalf and would have to prove that they can’t find a Swiss, EU national or someone else living here with a valid work permit who could do the job.
http://www.bfm.admin.ch/content/bfm/…zulassung.html
I’m not that knowledgeable about the student side of permits though so hopefully someone else with more insight will be able to tell you more.
Yes you can. If your degree comes from a Swiss university, after you are done with the studies you can apply for a 6 month l permit for looking for a job. During this time you will need to find an employeer that is willing to go though the procedure to get you a working permit. Being non-EU your first permit is will probably be an L.
Depending on the canton where you find a job the times could vary. If i am not wrong the average time is about 8 to 10 weeks.
legal bases: Art 21 par. 3
Foreign nationals with a Swiss university degree may be admitted in derogation from paragraph 1 if their work is of high academic or economic interest. They shall be temporarily admitted for a period of six months following completion of their education or training in Switzerland in order to find suitable work.1
Best!
R.R.
I am also from outside the EU/Shengen, and also have a B study visa. This type (more restrictive for non-Europeans) only allows you to work 20% during the school year. The problem is, it is nigh impossible to live off of 20% of any salary in Zurich . . . so I am applying to a few jobs that would bump me up to 50 or so %. My classmates are generally working 30-80%, so this is not something odd or that would have an adverse effect on my studies.
Is it possible to switch to a B work visa while still studying so I can make enough to actually live off of? (Provided I find a job, they can attest that I am the most qualified, yada yada).
No. It’s not simply a matter of attesting you’re the best qualified, they have to prove it to the Swiss authorities. And you would have to give up being a student as well I think. All students as far as I know are limited to 15 hours per week. If you/they are doing more then they’re working illegally. And you should have had enough money to cover your living expenses before you even started your course. How did you get approval without providing financial proof that you could support yourself while you study?
As to your question, my financial situation changed after my most recent permit renewal for personal reasons. It happens, no need to elaborate.
No employer would make the effort to change your permit if you’re only going to be working for them 50% of the time. It costs them several thousand francs for the application process - which is why only highly qualified and experienced non-EU nationals stand a chance. A student who’s not a graduate simply isn’t going to make it I’m afraid. You need to seriously consider giving up your course and going back to your home country until your financial situation improves. Hate to say it, but I can’t see anything else you can do. You can’t afford to live here as a student at the moment and you can’t increase your work hours. You’d have to give up studying to make you even remotely possible to be hired, but you have neither the qualifications or experience to land a job here.
Yes, of course I/we do. It makes a difference to any advice offered. Pleased to hear that, but is the permit change approved yet?